Thread tensioning lubricator



Aug. 28, 1951- s. A. WARD THREAD TENSIONING LUBRICATOR Filed April 14, 1949 QM A Inventor: Sam A. Ward Patented Aug. 28, 1951 THREAD TEN SIONING LUBRICATOR Sam A. Ward, Efiand, N. 0., assignor to Orange Hosiery Mills, Efland, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application April 14, 1949, SerialNo. 87,470

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a thread-tensioning device and more particularly to an arrangement and association whereby a thread may be tensioned and lubricated or moistened.

In practically all types of knitting machines and particularly in straight knitting machines such as are employed in the manufacture of full fashioned stockings or hosiery, it is essential that, at a location between a cone of yarn or thread and the needles, some sort of a, tensioning device and lubricating or moistening arrangement be present. Since the yarn or thread, during the process of knitting, is taken from the cone at a relatively rapid pace during certain actions of the knitting machine and at other actions of the knitting machine the yarn or thread so far as the cone is concerned is stationary, the yarn or thread is subjected to whipping actions due to the fact that more thread or yarn is taken from the cone or source of supply than is required. This yarn or thread action, if not properly controlled, results in the formation of loops or curls which either cause press-offs or other imperfections in the knitted fabric.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved tensioning device, which by means of weights and frictional forces, will automatically maintain a uniform tension in thread or yarn to result in a more uniform fab- A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved tensioning device so arranged and constructed that, so-called horizontal rings which are the result of tension variatic-ns are entirely eliminated.

An added object of the invention is the provision of an improved tensioning device having incorporated therein a thread or yarn lubricator and grounded so that static will be removed from the yarn or thread and the latter will be lubricated resulting in the conditioning of the yarn or thread for knitting or weaving and rendering the yarn or thread flexible so that it may be turned back upon itself to thereby produce a fabric resistant to snags, pulls or runs.

The above and many other objects of the invention will become apparent from the succeeding description taken into consideration with an exemplified form thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical or cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, Wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate, in a somewhat general manner, an automatic lubricator and precision yarn or thread tensioning and control device or mechanism embodying a form of the present invention. The new and improved device or mechanism comprises a bracket or supporting brace 2 which may be of any configuration or design so long as it presents an arm 3 arranged horizontally and aifording a means for carrying the remaining structure hereinafter described in detail. In the illustration the bracket or brace has, at an extremity removed from the arm end thereof, a looped portion 4 suitably apertured and bolted so that the device or mechanism may be attached or secured to a convenient part of the knitting or weaving machine with which a plurality of devices of this invention are to be associated.

Disposed a predetermined distance below the bracket arm is a frame or cage 5 being formed primarily with a top wall or cross-bearer 6 preferably parallel with the bracket arm and in subjacent relation thereto. Interposed between'the cage cross-bearer and bracket arm is a filler block 1 which may, if desired, be formed of a resilient material so as to cushion vibratory shocks or external impulses transmitted to the mechanism through the bracket and set u in the knitting or weaving machine. The cage or frame is suspended from the bracket by means of a bolt and nut arrangement 8 only one of which is believed necessary and which extend centrally through the bracket arm, filler block and cage cross-bearer. Also only one suspension means is preferred so as to expedite removal or replacement of the mechanism or device. The cage may be made of relatively thin material and to add rigidity to the cage, the cross-bearer has lateral, angularly disposed, fins or ledges 9 extending therealong.

The cross-bearer has, at its ends thereof, horizontally spaced, downwardly and inwardly directed side fingers or connecting walls [0 each of which merges into a bottom wall I l, the latter of which is preferably parallel with and in lower spaced relation to the cross-bearer as well as being in vertical alignment therewith. The bottom walls terminate short of each other inwardly of the cage and merge into vertically directed, horizontally spaced legs l2 about which more description will be included hereinafter. The cage bottom walls are riveted or otherwise secured to a jar cap or lid l3 so that the cage will function as a supporting medium forthe structure included or appearing therebeneath.

Positioned at an elevation relative to the cage bottom wall and jar cap are a pair of horizontally aligned eyelets or thread guides M which may be made of metal or ceramic or any other material preferred. These thread guides are located near the top of the cage and thus are carried by the cage fingers or connecting walls, the fingers being suitably slotted as at [5 for the accommodation thereof (see Figure 2 particularly). If the eyelets are as those illustrated that they will not remain in a fixed position without being associated with some sort of holding means, there is provided a spring clip [6 held t the underneath part of the cage cross-bearer by the bolt and nut assembly and having bifurcated end detents il in biting engagement with the eyelet to thereby retain the thread guides in a fixed, predetermined position.

Since the device herein described is located between a cone of'yarn or thread and the needles of the knitting machine the device is such that the thread is intermeshed therewith. Accordingly, the thread or yarn, indicated by the refer ence character 18, enters the cage through one thread guide and leaves the cage through the companion or other eyelet. The area between the eyelets is utilized to house the tensioning and lubricating medium and accordingly, it will be noted that the cage is bisected at spaced locations by removable guide means, forks or stanchions l9. Each stanchion is preferably in the nature of va hair pin in that it is formed of resilient metal or Wire stock with a top loop portion. 2i? and transversely spaced, vertically directed, substantially parallel tines 2 l. The guide means, interposed between the thread guides, are removably secured to the device and may be pulled upwardly so as to disassociate them from the remaining structure. So as to eliminate the necessity of aligning a multiplicity of the accommodating holes in the members pierced by the tines, only the bracket arm, the filler block, possibly the spring clip and the jar cap are provided with vertically aligned holes 22 so that the guide means tines may extend therethrough. It will, therefore, be noted that the cage or frame plays no part in holding the guide means in a predetermined position and since the tines of one guide means are divergent, before assembly, the resiliency contained therein when the tines are brought into parallel relation upon assembly (see Figure 3) will cause them to frictionally engage the metal defining the holes 22 to prevent accidental displacement of the guide means during service. In accordance with the above teachings the cage cross-bearer and bottom walls are provided with vertically aligned slots 23 (see Figure 3) which will present clearance about the tines at these locations and thereby simplify manufactur and assembly of the device.

Arranged to move vertically along each guide means is a ringlet or weight means 2 3 of sufiicient diameter to freely encircle or encompass the fork tines and having a range of movement equal to the distance between the spring clip and cage bottom wall. The thread or yarn is threaded through the spaced ringlets and since the latter are free to fall from a location in horizontal alignment with the eyelets to the cage bottom wall, the weight means may move within this range to maintain a proper tension in the thread. Further it will be noted that two tines for each guide means is preferred and that the thread passes through the space between paired tines so that the ringlets may not rotate and tangle the thread.

The devices heretofore employed of the nature of the device herein-described and claimed are in the nature of take-up devices and while they wer and are termed tensioning devices this actually is a misnomer since their effectiveness is limited to the range of travel of the rings and further that the same or a constant load is applied to the thread or yarn irrespective of the relative vertical positions of the weight means. In the case of nylon thread of fifteen or ten or lighter denier, either of monofilament or mu'ltiiilament character, the thread is of little tensile value and it becomes important that the tensioning device be automatic and graduated or of an automatically fluctuating nature so as to properly tension the thread as Working conditions demand.

Toward the accomplishment of the above there is removably secured, between the cage spaced legs 12 a wick 25 preferably formed of a fibrous material such as cotton or the like so as to act or function as a conduit for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The wick extends from well below the jar cap to a location preferably in alignment with or to the height of the eyelet thread openings so that when the thread is tensioned or extends substantially horizontal between the eyelets, the thread will merely brush across the top of the wick. The wick is held in a fixed position by means of adjustable holding means or bolts 25 extending through the cage legs on either side of the wick to thereby clamp the latter between the legs. Since, as Will be hereinafter pointed out,'the thread or yarn is arranged to ride over the wick and the latter is made preferably of a loose fibrous or porous material it is further preferred that some protecting means shall cover or form a part of the wick so that the thread will not cut into it because if such were the case the purpose of the arrangement would be practically defeated. Accordingly, a ribbon 21 of nylon fabric or any other preferred or desired material forms an outer cover for the wick and as such extends from well below the limits of the jar cap to the upper reaches of the wick. When the holding means 26 have their effective lengths shortened or in other words, when these bolts are tightened, the wick, between the cage legs, will be compressed and the free or upper extremity 28 of the wick will become bulbous or arcuate in crosssection.

By referring particularly to Figure l of the drawing, it will be observed that the thread between the ringlets is trailed or draped over the bulbous extremity of the wick and as the ringlets are moved in a vertical direction along the guide means, in response to the amount of tensioning demanded to meet conditions caused by the knitting or weaving machine, the amount or length of thread or yarn contacting the bulbous wick extremity will vary thereby automatically varying the frictional resistance offered by the thread-wick contact. When the arrangement is as illustrated in full lines in Figure 1, the thread condition is such that no additional tensioning is required but as the ringlets approach or reach the positions indicated at 24a by diagrammatic lines a greater tensioning of the thread will be effected since a longer length of the thread will be in contact with the bulbous wick extremity.

The wick not only functions as a resistor but also acts as a conduit for a lubricating medium and a wiper, the latter being necessary to remove any foreign particles from the thread as it passes over the wick or to remove any particles adhering to the thread and notnecessary'to form a part thereof. Threadedly associated with the jar cap is a glass container or jar 29 acting as a housing for a non-static lubricating medium 30 into which the wick extends so that the wick may carry the liquid to its bulbous portion or extremity.

From the preceding it will be noted that various changes and alterations may be made to the disclosed and described specie of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a thread-tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means interposed between said frame and bracket, means securing said frame, bracket and first named means together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame, horizontally spaced removable guide means extending through said frame, weight means slidably arranged on said guide means, and a bulbous wick leading from below said jar cap and terminating at a height substantially in alignment with said eyelets; said bulbous wick being interposed between said guide means.

2. In a thread tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means interposed between said frame and bracket, means securing said frame, bracket and first named means together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame, horizontally spaced removable guide means extending through said frame and carried by said bracket and cap; said guide means being interposed between said eyelets, weight means movable vertically on said guide means, and a covered bulbous wick interposed between said guide means, said bulbous wick extending to a height substantially in alignment with said eyelets.

3. In a thread tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means interposed between said frame and bracket,

means securing said frame, bracket and first named means together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame for the passage of thread therethrough, a bulbous wick carried by said frame and extending from below said cap to a height substantially in horizontal alignment with said eyelets, guide means between said wick and eyelets and being rem-ovably secured to said supporting bracket and cap, and weight means associated with said guide means and movable vertically with respect thereto, said weight means being adapted to drape said thread over said bulbous wick and thereby additionally tension said thread.

4. In a thread tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means interposed between said frame and bracket, means securing said frame, bracket and first named means together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame adjacent an upper extremity thereof for the passage of thread there= through, a bulbous wick carried by said frame and extending from below said cap to a height substantially in horizontal alignment with said eyelets, said bulbous wick comprising an outer exposed fibrous cover, guide means between said wick and eyelets and carried by said supporting bracket and cap, and weight means arranged for vertical movement along said guide means from through said weight means and over said wick so that as said weight means is lowered a greater length of thread will be in frictional contact with said fibrous cover.

5. In a thread tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means securing said frame to said supporting bracket, horizontally spaced and aligned eyelets carried by said frame adjacent an upper extremity thereof, legs upstanding within said frame intermediate said eyelets, a wick having a woven covering clamped between said legs and presenting a bulbous extremity above said legs, guide means extending vertically through said frame between said wick and eyelets, and weight means arranged to move vertically on said guide means; said combination being such that a thread extending through said eyelets and weight means and over said ibulbous wick extremity will have a progressively greater length thereof contact said bulbous wick extremity as said weight means assume a progressively lower position.

6. In a thread tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means securing said frame to said supporting bracket, horizontally spaced and aligned eyelets carried by said frame adjacent an upper extremity there" of for the passage of a thread therethrough, horizontally spaced legs upstanding within said frame intermediate and below said eyelets, a wick having a woven covering clamped between said legs and presenting a bulbous extremity above said legs, guide means extending vertically and freely through said frame and carried by said cap and bracket, and ringlets encircling said guide means and movable vertically relative thereto; said thread between said eyelets passing through said ringlets and over said bulbous Wick extremity so that as said ringlets assume a lowered position to tension said thread said thread will have a greater length contacting said bulbous wick extremity and thereby add to the tensioning of said thread.

7. In a thread-tensioning device, the c0mbination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced. from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, means securing said frame and bracket together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame, horizontally spaced removable guide means extending through said frame, weight means slidably arranged on said guide means, and a bulbous wick leading from below said jar cap and terminating at a height substantially in alignment with said eyelets, said bulbous wick being interposed between said guide means.

8. In a thread-tensioning device, the combination of, a jar cap, a supporting bracket spaced from said cap, a frame secured to said cap, cushioning means interposed between said frame and bracket, means securing said frame, bracket and cushioning means together, horizontally spaced eyelets carried by said frame, horizontally spaced removable guide means extending through said frame, weight means slida'bly arranged on said guide means, and a bulbous wick leading from below said jar cap and terminating at a height substantially in alignment with said eyelets, said bulbous wick being interposed between said guide means- SAM A. WARD.

No references cited. 

